Page 32 of Line Change

Fraser points to a row of glasses. “Help yourself.”

I get water and go back to the living room.

By eleven, Haugen is ready to leave. Bobby has Haugen’s jacket in hand before he finishes standing.

“I can carry my own coat,” Haugen says.

“I know.”

Bobby doesn’t give it back.

Haugen stares at him, then takes the coat and pulls it on. “I’m injured. I’m not six.”

“Never said you were.”

“You don’t have to. You’re very expressive.”

Haugen says goodnight to the room and leaves with one of the younger defensemen. Bobby watches the door close behind them. “He’s going home, not crossing the mountains on foot,” I tell him.

“I know.”

“Do you?”

His head turns. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve been watching him all night.”

His face closes. “He’s a rookie.”

That doesn’t explain the coat or the way he tracked Haugen across the room. “He’s injured. Nara knows what he can do. So does he.”

Bobby’s jaw tightens. “I made the pass.”

“Rourke made the hit.”

“I made the pass,” he says again.

He isn’t listening, so I stop trying.

Bobby turns away. “Leave it, Pope. You don’t know me that well.”

He looks toward the kitchen where Fraser is laughing at something Anton said. “You staying?”

“For a while.”

He nods and goes to join them.

More people leave over the next half hour. Caleb goes. Anton gets dragged out by two teammates after announcing that everyone in the apartment is a coward for refusing one final game. The music drops low enough that I can hear bottles knocking together in the recycling bin.

Fraser still hasn’t been alone for more than a few seconds.

I pick up my jacket. I could try again at the rink or send a text when I get home, apologizing without standing in the apartment where I can see the marks my teeth left near the collar of his shirt. My arm is halfway into the sleeve when I stop. I’ve already spent days waiting for a better time.

I’m not leaving until we’ve talked.

I pull my arm out of the sleeve and leave the jacket over the chair. Two empty glasses from the coffee table give me a reason to head toward the kitchen where Fraser disappeared.

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